Improved bit for taming horses



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEI'CE.

AURELIUS LAVEYMOUTH, OFBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED BIT FOR TAMING HORSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,796, dated July 1, 186'?.

part of this speciication, in which- Figure l is a side view of my invention applied to a horse; Fig. 2, a detached sectional plan or face View of the same, taken in the line x x, Fig. 3; Fig; 3, an enlarged side View of the same detached from the bridle; Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, detached views of parts pertaining to the same, Fig. 7 being a section taken in the line y y', Fig. 8.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts iu the several Iigures.

This invention relates to a modification and improvement on a bit for which Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date July 30,l 1861. In the patented bit means were used which rendered it self operating or expanding, so. as to keep the mouth of the animal in a 4distended or open state, to prevent the ordinary bridle-bit being grasped by the teethand rendered ino Jerative or powerless.

The Within-described invention consists iu constructing the bit in such a manner that the mouth ofthe animal may be distended or opened at the will of the rider or driver, and, when not required to be operated with this special View, be capable of being used as an ordinary bit, thereby avoiding the use of two bits, which were heretofore necessary.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will A proceed to describe it.

- chains c a to the ends of the strap A. This bit C is formed of two cross-bars, b b', couuected "at their center by a pin, c, on which they are allowed to work freely. The outer parts of the bars b b are bent at right angles to their inner parts, as shown at d, and the chains a are attached to the ends of d. The inner parts of the bars b b constitute the main portion of the bit, or the bit proper. The chains a are connected to the ends of the strap A by means of buckles D, one at each end of the strap.

The parts above alluded to are precisely the same as those described in my patented bit previously referred to.

E E represent two bent levers, which are vconnected at their angles or bends by a fulcrum-pin, e. There are a pair of these levers at each side of the bit, and they are connected at their front ends to the parts d of the bit by pivots or pins f, on which they are fitted loosely and retained thereon either by a ring, g, or a slide, h. (See Figs. 4, 5, and 6.) This arrangement admits of the levers being readily detached from the bit, if required, and it may be necessary to detach them in certain cases to facilitate the adjustment of the bit in the month of the animal. The front ends of the levers, however, may be permanently attached to the parts d d of the bit and the levers formed each of two parts connected by a piu, i, and slide j, as shown in Fig. 7. This will admit of the back and longer parts of the levers being detached, which may loe alllthat is necessary.

The back parts of the levers E are each pro vided with'a ring, 7a, through which straps Z, attached to strap A, pass, the straps Z holding the levers E in proper position. The levers E are curved downward at their back parts, and terminate in an eye or loop, m, to which the ends of a rein, F, are attached, said rein passing through rings n a at the back parts of the levers E.

G is a rein, the ends of which are attached to the bars b b at opposite ends of the bit.

The device is used as follows: The bit G is placed in the mouth of the animal, the strap A and throat-latch B being adjusted to the animal as usual. The rein G is used by the rider or driver when the device is intendedI to operate as au ordinary bit; but in case of the animal becoming vicious and unmanageable the rider or driver grasps the rein F, and by drawing it back actuates the levers EE at each side of the bit, and thereby expands the bars b b and distends the mouth of the animal, so that he will be under the complete control of the rider or driver.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the pivoted levers E E with each other and with the bars b b', in the manner and for the purpose herein shown and described.

AURELIUS L. WEYMOUTH. Witnesses:

G. S. BILLARD, FRANCIS V. BALCH. 

